Without a referee, the beautiful game of football cannot be enjoyed. During a football game, it is the job of a referee to enforce the rules. The ref pursues the choice in regard to all realities associated with play and is the main authority on the pitch with the position to begin and stop play and discipline the players during a match.
To ensure that matches run smoothly, a referee also works with the assistant referees and even the fourth official. As humans, referees naturally make mistakes, but the controversy keeps making football more entertaining to watch. You probably know some of your favorite league officials.
Nevertheless, I have compiled a list of the world’s top ten football referees for you today. The majority of these officials work in elite European leagues and have officiated numerous notable matches.
Here’s our list of the Highest-Paid referees in the world for 2022 :
10. Mark Geiger
Mark Geiger is hanging up his whistle 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jnLLgSnA4d
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 10, 2019
The United States of America is where he was born. He is a ref with tremendous encounter and expertise. Since 2008, Mark has been on the FIFA International Referees List and has officiated domestic Major League Soccer (MLS) games.
Mark Geiger is likewise an individual from the Expert Official Association (Ace). In 2011 and 2014, he was named MLS referee of the year. Did you realize it? Additionally, Mark Geiger teaches mathematics.
9. Martin Atkinson
— UpYourArsenal🔴⚪🔴⚪♥️ (@UPYOURARSENAL04) February 24, 2022Raul Jimenez 3 fouls
Bukayo Saka 1 foul
Guess who gets a yellow card.Martin Atkinson you are a fraud💯 pic.twitter.com/MI70lvqNfz
Atkinson is well-liked for his ability to cover ground and his smart decisions during the match. He officiated the Football League Cup final in 2014 and the FA Cup final in 2011, both of which Manchester City won.
Atkinson officiated 48 English football games during the 2009–10 Premier League season, which was his highest total to date for a single season.
8. Nestor Pitana
10 – Néstor Pitana has officiated six games with Flamengo (W3 D1 L2) and four with Palmeiras (W1 D2 L1) in the Libertadores. None of them have won their games against Brazilian opponents in which the Argentinian has been the referee (D1 L1 for each side). Whistle. pic.twitter.com/ObNduUWvxB
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) October 27, 2021
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifications, he officiated numerous matches. He used to be an actor. Nestor Pitana directed the last of the FIFA 2018 World Cup and has been commended as the best football ref on the planet at present.
After fellow Argentine Horacio Elizondo did the same at the 2006 World Cup, Nestor Pitana became the second official to referee both the opening game and the final of the same tournament.
7. Cüneyt Çakır
— Murat Fenerbahçe (@FBahcelilerr) August 5, 2022Seni hiç iyi hatırlamayacağız Cüneyt Çakır!
HAKKIMIZ HARAM OLSUN. pic.twitter.com/yW1baTXJAj
The Turkish referee, who is 44 years old, has overseen close to 200 matches in the Turkish Super Lig. In the 2012 Champions League semifinal between FC Barcelona and Chelsea at Camp Nou, he was the referee who sent John Terry off the field.
Akron is the first referee in Champions League history to oversee two separate semi-final matches. He did so during the 2015-16 season.
6. Anthony Taylor
🚨English Premier League referee, Anthony Taylor, will officiate Ghana v South Koreaon Monday. pic.twitter.com/03W24rvBzZ
— Bortey 🇬🇭 (@joelbortey) November 26, 2022
Anthony is considered to be one of the world’s best soccer referees. He has officiated notable games, including the 2015 Football League Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Taylor was selected to be the primary referee for the 2020 UEFA Super Cup in September 2020.
Taylor was selected as one of the six English officials who will oversee matches at the FIFA World Cup in November and December.
5. Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Esta noche, el futuro de la humanidad dependerá de las decisiones que tome este hombre. Antonio Miguel, "Toño", Mateu Lahoz. pic.twitter.com/bfpHAEeAv7
— Juanjo Díez 🔻 (@Juanjodiez) November 29, 2022
He also refereed the qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making him a prominent international referee. He was one of the best officials chosen to officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and tournament. Since 2008, he has been officiating La Liga games.
In 2011, he became a FIFA-listed referee and has officiated numerous El Clasico matches. The UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea was also officiated by Mateu Lahoz.
4. Damir Skomina
Slovenian referee Damir Skomina (44) has been appointed to officiate Friday's #UCL quarterfinal between FC Bayern and FC Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/JjTc5w1ghN
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 12, 2020
Skomina served as the fourth referee in numerous games. In the 2013 UEFA Champions League final, he served as the fourth official. The 2012 UEFA Super Cup and the 2017 UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United are two notable matches he has officiated.
3. Bjorn Kuipers
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 11, 2021Meet Bjorn Kuipers: “The World’s Richest Referee”
Kuipers is overseeing the Euro 2020 Final between England and Italy.
But beyond the field, Kuipers has made millions running branches of a Dutch supermarket chain, Jumbo. pic.twitter.com/WKKV4zYwFB
Numerous prestigious football games, including the 2011 UEFA Super Cup, the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final, and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final, have been officiated by Bjorn Kuipers. He has also officiated the UEFA Champions League final in 2014 and the U-20 World Cup final in 2017.
He is likewise a general store proprietor in the Netherlands. The Euro 2020 final was also referred to by Bjorn Kuipers.
2. Daniele Orsato
The referee for Argentina – Mexico is the Italian Daniele Orsato. pic.twitter.com/wQAES77egL
— BD Albiceleste on 𝕏 🇧🇩💙🇦🇷 (@bd_albiceleste) November 25, 2022
Orsato is in charge of the match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final. He was named the best referee of 2020 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFTHS). The Qatar-Ecuador opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be officiated by Daniele Orsato.
1. Felix Brych
— Ryan (@bernardooooV3) August 7, 2020Reminder that the referee for Manchester City vs Real Madrid, Felix Brych, was sent home from the 2018 World Cup by FIFA after his first match.
He is also a Bayern Munich fan, a club who has hierarchy always looking to bring Manchester City down.
Can’t wait 🥰 pic.twitter.com/DYN5ykXKX7
Since 2007, he has held the rank of UEFA Elite group referee and has a FIFA license. Brych has officiated important games like the Sevilla-Benfica UEFA Europa League Final in 2014. also the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2017. He was chosen as one of the referees for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. One of the most highly regarded European referees of his generation is Brych.
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